Coexistence management via scheduling

ABSTRACT

In some aspects, the disclosure is directed to methods and systems for coexistence management. A first access point is scheduled a time to begin transmission of a packet to a user device in an unlicensed frequency band using a first RAT. The time to begin the transmission is scheduled to avoid transmission overlap with a second access point using a second RAT in the unlicensed frequency band, and scheduled according to information from the second access point regarding operation in the unlicensed frequency band using the second RAT. One of the first and second RATs includes one of a WLAN RAT or a LTE based RAT, and another of the first and second RATs includes a remaining one of the WLAN RAT or the LTE based RAT, in one or more embodiments. The first access point receives updated information regarding operation in the unlicensed frequency band using the second RAT. Using the updated information, an updated time for the first access point to begin the transmission using the first RAT is determined, the updated time determined to avoid transmission overlap with the second RAT in the unlicensed frequency band. The first access point transmits, according to the determined updated time, the packet in the unlicensed frequency band using the first RAT.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority to and the benefit of U.S. ProvisionalApplication No. 62/255,397, filed Nov. 14, 2015, entitled “COEXISTENCEMANAGEMENT VIA SCHEDULING”, assigned to the assignee of thisapplication, and which is incorporated herein by reference in itsentirety for all purposes.

FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE

This disclosure generally relates to systems and methods for managingtransmissions within a communications system, including but not limitedto systems and methods for coexistence between radio access technologies(RATs).

BACKGROUND OF THE DISCLOSURE

In the last few decades, the market for wireless communications deviceshas grown by orders of magnitude, fueled by the use of portable devices,and increased connectivity and data transfer between all manners ofdevices. Digital switching techniques have facilitated the large scaledeployment of affordable, easy-to-use wireless communication networks.Furthermore, digital and radio frequency (RF) circuit fabricationimprovements, as well as advances in circuit integration and otheraspects have made wireless equipment smaller, cheaper, and morereliable. Wireless communication can operate in accordance with variousstandards such as IEEE 802.11x, Bluetooth, global system for mobilecommunications (GSM), code division multiple access (CDMA). As increaseddata throughput and other developments occur, updates and new standardsare constantly being developed for adoption, such those associated withthe third. generation partnership project (3GPP) and IEEE 802.11.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Various objects, aspects, features, and advantages of the disclosurewill become more apparent and better understood by referring to thedetailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanyingdrawings, in which like reference characters identify correspondingelements throughout. In the drawings, like reference numbers generallyindicate identical, functionally similar, and/or structurally similarelements.

FIG. 1A is a block diagram depicting an embodiment of a networkenvironment including one or more wireless communication devices incommunication with one or more devices or stations;

FIGS. 1B and 1C are block diagrams depicting embodiments of computingdevices useful in connection with the methods and systems describedherein;

FIG. 2A depicts an embodiment of a system for co-existence management;

FIG. 2B depicts one embodiment of a method for co-existence management;

FIG. 2C depicts an embodiment of co-existence by avoiding overlapsacross channels;

FIG. 2D depicts an embodiment of a packet from which to extractinformation;

FIG. 2E depicts one embodiment of a method for supporting deterministicand/or periodical transmissions;

FIG. 2F depicts an embodiment of a system for co-existence management;and

FIGS. 2G and 2H are flow diagrams depicting embodiments of methods forcoexistence management.

The details of various embodiments of the methods and systems are setforth in the accompanying drawings and the description below.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The following standard(s) and specification(s), including any draftversions of such standard(s) and specification(s), are herebyincorporated herein by reference in their entirety and are made part ofthe present disclosure for all purposes: Long-Term Evolution (LTE);LTE-Advanced (LTE-A); LTE-Unlicensed (LTE-U); 3GPP; and IEEE 802.11.Although this disclosure can reference aspects of these standard(s) andspecification(s), the disclosure is in no way limited to these aspects.Various embodiments of these standard(s) and specification(s), such asLTE-Unlicensed (LTE-U), and licensed-assisted access (LAA) LTE(sometimes referred to as LTE-LAA or LAA), are within the scope of thedisclosure.

For purposes of reading the description of the various embodimentsbelow, the following descriptions of the sections of the specificationand their respective contents can be helpful:

Section A describes a network environment and computing environmentwhich can be useful for practicing embodiments described herein; and

Section B describes embodiments of systems and methods for coexistencemanagement.

A. Computing and Network Environment

Prior to discussing specific embodiments of the present solution,aspects of the operating environment as well as associated systemcomponents (e.g., hardware elements) are described in connection withthe methods and systems described herein. Referring to FIG. 1A, anembodiment of a network environment is depicted. In brief overview, thenetwork environment includes a wireless communication system thatincludes one or more base stations 106, one or more wirelesscommunication devices 102 and a network hardware component 192. Thewireless communication devices 102 can for example include laptopcomputers 102, tablets 102, personal computers 102 and/or cellulartelephone devices 102. The details of an embodiment of each wirelesscommunication device and/or base station are described in greater detailwith reference to FIGS. 1B and 1C. The network environment can be an adhoc network environment, an infrastructure wireless network environment,a subnet environment, etc., in one embodiment.

Terms such as “wireless communication device”, “user equipment,” “mobilestation,” “mobile,” “mobile device,” “subscriber station,” “subscriberequipment,” “access terminal,” “terminal,” “user device,” “userterminal,” “handset,” and similar terminology, can refer to a wirelessdevice utilized by a subscriber or user of a wireless communicationservice to receive or convey data, control, voice, video, sound, gaming,or substantially any data-stream or signaling-stream. The foregoingterms can be utilized interchangeably in the present disclosure.Likewise, terms such as “access point (AP),” “wireless access point(WAP),” “base station,” “base transceiver station”, “Node B.” “evolvedNode B (eNode B or eNB),” home Node B (HNB),” “home access point (HAP),”and similar terminology, can be utilized interchangeably in the presentdisclosure, and refer to a wireless network component or apparatus thatserves and receives data, control, voice, video, sound, gaming, orsubstantially any data-stream or signaling-stream from a set of wirelessdevices.

Referring again to FIG. 1A, the base stations 106 can be operablycoupled to the network hardware 192 via local area network connections.The network hardware 192, which can include a router, gateway, switch,bridge, modem, system controller, appliance, etc., can provide a localarea network connection for the communication system. Each of the basestations 106 can have an associated antenna or an antenna array tocommunicate with the wireless communication devices 102 in its area. Thewireless communication devices 102 can register with a particular accesspoint 106 to receive services from the communication system (e.g., via aSU-MIMO or MU-MIMO configuration). For direct connections (e.g.,point-to-point communications), some wireless communication devices 102can communicate directly via an allocated channel and communicationsprotocol. Some of the wireless communication devices 102 can be mobileor relatively static with respect to the access point 106.

In some embodiments, a base station 106 includes a device or module(including a combination of hardware and software) that allows wirelesscommunication devices 102 to connect to a wired network using LTE,Wi-Fi, and/or other standards. A base station 106 can be implemented,designed and/or built for operating in a wireless local area network(WLAN), or in a cellular network. A base station 106 can connect to arouter (e.g., via a wired network) as a standalone device in someembodiments. In other embodiments, a base station can be a component ofa router. A base station 106 can provide multiple devices 102 access toa network. A base station 106 can, for example, connect to a wiredEthernet connection and provide wireless connections using radiofrequency links for other devices 102 to utilize that wired connection.A base station 106 can be built and/or implemented to support a standardfor sending and receiving data using one or more radio frequencies.Those standards and the frequencies they use can be defined by the IEEEor 3GPP for example. A base station 106 can be implemented and/or usedto support cellular coverage, public Internet hotspots, and/or on aninternal network to extend the network's signal (e.g., Wi-Fi) range.

In some embodiments, the base stations 106 can be used for (e.g.,in-home or in-building) wireless networks (e.g., IEEE 802.11, Bluetooth,ZigBee, cellular, any other type of radio frequency based networkprotocol and/or variations thereof). Each of the wireless communicationdevices 102 can include a built-in radio and/or is coupled to a radio.Such wireless communication devices 102 and/or base stations 106 canoperate in accordance with the various aspects of the disclosure aspresented herein to enhance performance, reduce costs and/or size,and/or enhance broadband applications. Each wireless communicationdevices 102 can have the capacity to function as a client node seekingaccess to resources (e.g., data, and connection to networked nodes suchas servers) via one or more base stations 106.

The network connections can include any type and/or form of network andcan include any of the following: a point-to-point network, a broadcastnetwork, a telecommunications network, a data communication network, acomputer network. The topology of the network can be a bus, star, orring network topology. The network can be of any such network topologyas known to those ordinarily skilled in the art capable of supportingthe operations described herein. In some embodiments, different types ofdata can be transmitted via different protocols. In other embodiments,the same types of data can be transmitted via different protocols.

The communications device(s) 102 and base station(s) 106 can be deployedas and/or executed on any type and form of computing device, such as acomputer, network device or appliance capable of communicating on anytype and form of network and performing the operations described herein.FIGS. 1B and 1C depict block diagrams of a computing device 100 usefulfor practicing an embodiment of the wireless communication devices 102or the base station 106. As shown in FIGS. 1B and 1C, each computingdevice 100 includes a central processing unit 121, and a main memoryunit 122. As shown in FIG. 1B, a computing device 100 can include astorage device 128, an installation device 116, a network interface 118,an I/O controller 123, display devices 124 a-124 n, a keyboard 126 and apointing device 127, such as a mouse. The storage device 128 caninclude, without limitation, an operating system and/or software. Asshown in FIG. 1C, each computing device 100 can also include additionaloptional elements, such as a memory port 103, a bridge 170, one or moreinput/output devices 130 a-130 n (generally referred to using referencenumeral 130), and a cache memory 140 in communication with the centralprocessing unit 121.

The central processing unit 121 is any logic circuitry that responds toand processes instructions fetched from the main memory unit 122. Inmany embodiments, the central processing unit 121 is provided by amicroprocessor unit, such as: those manufactured by Intel Corporation ofMountain View, Calif.; those manufactured by International BusinessMachines of White Plains, N.Y.; those manufactured by ARM Holdings, plcof Cambridge, England, or those manufactured by Advanced Micro Devicesof Sunnyvale, Calif. The computing device 100 can be based on any ofthese processors, or any other processor capable of operating asdescribed herein.

Main memory unit 122 can be one or more memory chips capable of storingdata and allowing any storage location to be directly accessed by themicroprocessor 121, such as any type or variant of Static random accessmemory (SRAM), Dynamic random access memory (DRAM), Ferroelectric RAM(FRAM), NAND Flash, NOR Flash and Solid State Drives (SSD). The mainmemory 122 can be based on any of the above described memory chips, orany other available memory chips capable of operating as describedherein. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 1B, the processor 121communicates with main memory 122 via a system bus 150 (described inmore detail below). FIG. 1C depicts an embodiment of a computing device100 in which the processor communicates directly with main memory 122via a memory port 103. For example, in FIG. 1C the main memory 122 canbe DRDRAM.

FIG. 1C depicts an embodiment in which the main processor 121communicates directly with cache memory 140 via a secondary bus,sometimes referred to as a backside bus. In other embodiments, the mainprocessor 121 communicates with cache memory 140 using the system bus150. Cache memory 140 typically has a faster response time than mainmemory 122 and is provided by, for example, SRAM, BSRAM, or EDRAM. Inthe embodiment shown in FIG. 1C, the processor 121 communicates withvarious I/O devices 130 a-n via a local system bus 150. Various busescan be used to connect the central processing unit 121 to any of the I/Odevices 130, for example, a VESA VL bus, an ISA bus, an EISA bus, aMicroChannel Architecture (MCA) bus, a PCI bus, a PCI-X bus, aPCI-Express bus, or a NuBus. For embodiments in which the I/O device isa video display 124, the processor 121 can use an Advanced Graphics Port(AGP) to communicate with the display 124. FIG. 1C depicts an embodimentof a computer 100 in which the main processor 121 can communicatedirectly with I/O device 130 b, for example via HYPERTRANSPORT, RAPIDIO,or INFINIBAND communications technology. FIG. 1C also depicts anembodiment in which local busses and direct communication are mixed: theprocessor 121 communicates with I/O device 130 a using a localinterconnect bus while communicating with I/O device 131 directly.

A wide variety of I/O devices 130 a-n and 131 can be present in thecomputing device 100. Input devices include keyboards, mice, trackpads,trackballs, microphones, dials, touch pads, touch screen, and drawingtablets. Output devices include video displays, speakers, inkjetprinters, laser printers, projectors and dye-sublimation printers. TheI/O devices 130 a-n can be controlled by an I/O controller 123 as shownin FIG. 1B. The I/O controller can control one or more I/O devices suchas a keyboard 126 and a pointing device 127, e.g., a mouse or opticalpen. Furthermore, an I/O device can also provide storage and/or aninstallation medium 116 for the computing device 100. In still otherembodiments, the computing device 100 can provide USB connections (notshown) to receive handheld USB storage devices such as the USB FlashDrive line of devices manufactured by Twintech Industry, Inc. of LosAlamitos, Calif.

Referring again to FIG. 1B, the computing device 100 can support anysuitable installation device 116, such as a disk drive, a CD-ROM drive,a CD-R/RW drive, a DVD-ROM drive, a flash memory drive, tape drives ofvarious formats, USB device, hard-drive, a network interface, or anyother device suitable for installing software and programs. Thecomputing device 100 can further include a storage device, such as oneor more hard disk drives or redundant arrays of independent disks, forstoring an operating system and other related software, and for storingapplication software programs such as any program or software 120 forimplementing (e.g., built and/or designed for) the systems and methodsdescribed herein. Optionally, any of the installation devices 116 couldalso be used as the storage device. Additionally, the operating systemand the software can be run from a bootable medium.

Furthermore, the computing device 100 can include a network interface118 to interface to the network 104 through a variety of connectionsincluding, but not limited to, standard telephone lines, LAN or WANlinks (e.g., 802.11, T1, T3, 56 kb, X.25, SNA, DECNET), broadbandconnections (e.g., ISDN, Frame Relay, ATM, Gigabit Ethernet,Ethernet-over-SONET), wireless connections, or some combination of anyor all of the above. Connections can be established using a variety ofcommunication protocols (e.g., TCP/IP, IPX, SPX, NetBIOS, Ethernet,ARCNET, SONET, SDH, Fiber Distributed Data Interface (FDDI), RS232, IEEE802.11, IEEE 802.11a, IEEE 802.11b, IEEE 802.11g, IEEE 802.11n, IEEE802.11ac, IEEE 802.11ad, CDMA, GSM, WiMax, LTE, LTE-A and directasynchronous connections). In one embodiment, the computing device 100communicates with other computing devices 100′ via any type and/or formof gateway or tunneling protocol such as Secure Socket Layer (SSL) orTransport Layer Security (TLS). The network interface 118 can include abuilt-in network adapter, network interface card, PCMCIA network card,card bus network adapter, wireless network adapter, USB network adapter,modem or any other device suitable for interfacing the computing device100 to any type of network capable of communication and performing theoperations described herein.

In some embodiments, the computing device 100 can include or beconnected to one or more display devices 124 a-124 n. As such, any ofthe I/O devices 130 a-130 n and/or the I/O controller 123 can includeany type and/or form of suitable hardware, software, or combination ofhardware and software to support, enable or provide for the connectionand use of the display device(s) 124 a-124 n by the computing device100. For example, the computing device 100 can include any type and/orform of video adapter, video card, driver, and/or library to interface,communicate, connect or otherwise use the display device(s) 124 a-124 n.In one embodiment, a video adapter can include multiple connectors tointerface to the display device(s) 124 a-124 n. In other embodiments,the computing device 100 can include multiple video adapters, with eachvideo adapter connected to the display device(s) 124 a-124 n. In someembodiments, any portion of the operating system of the computing device100 can be implemented for using multiple displays 124 a-124 n. Oneordinarily skilled in the art will recognize and appreciate the variousways and embodiments that a computing device 100 can be implemented tohave one or more display devices 124 a-124 n.

In further embodiments, an I/O device 130 a-n can be a bridge betweenthe system bus 150 and an external communication bus, such as a USB bus,an Apple Desktop Bus, an RS-232 serial connection, a SCSI bus, aFireWire bus, a FireWire 800 bus, an Ethernet bus, an AppleTalk bus, aGigabit Ethernet bus, an Asynchronous Transfer Mode bus, a FibreChannelbus, a Serial Attached small computer system interface bus, a USBconnection, or a HDMI bus.

A computing device 100 of the sort depicted in FIGS. 1B and 1C canoperate under the control of an operating system, which controlscheduling of tasks and access to system resources. The computing device100 can be running any operating system such as any of the versions ofthe MICROSOFT WINDOWS operating systems, the different releases of theUnix and Linux operating systems, any version of the MAC OS forMacintosh computers, any embedded operating system, any real-timeoperating system, any open source operating system, any proprietaryoperating system, any operating systems for mobile computing devices, orany other operating system capable of running on the computing deviceand performing the operations described herein. Typical operatingsystems include, but are not limited to: Android, produced by GoogleInc.; WINDOWS 7 and 8, produced by Microsoft Corporation of Redmond,Wash.; MAC OS, produced by Apple Computer of Cupertino, Calif.; WebOS,produced by Research In Motion (RIM); OS/2, produced by InternationalBusiness Machines of Armonk, N.Y.; and Linux, a freely-availableoperating system distributed by Caldera Corp. of Salt Lake City, Utah,or any type and/or form of a Unix operating system, among others.

The computer system 100 can be any workstation, telephone, sensor,desktop computer, laptop or notebook computer, server, handheldcomputer, mobile telephone, or other portable telecommunications device,media playing device, a gaming system, mobile computing device, or anyother type and/or form of computing, telecommunications or media devicethat is capable of communication. The computer system 100 has sufficientprocessor power and memory capacity to perform the operations describedherein.

In some embodiments, the computing device 100 can have differentprocessors, operating systems, and input devices consistent with thedevice. For example, in one embodiment, the computing device 100 is asmart phone, mobile device, tablet or personal digital assistant. Instill other embodiments, the computing device 100 is an Android-basedmobile device, an iPhone smart phone manufactured by Apple Computer ofCupertino, Calif., or a Blackberry or WebOS-based handheld device orsmart phone, such as the devices manufactured by Research In MotionLimited. Moreover, the computing device 100 can be any workstation,desktop computer, laptop or notebook computer, server, handheldcomputer, mobile telephone, any other computer, or other form ofcomputing or telecommunications device that is capable of communicationand that has sufficient processor power and memory capacity to performthe operations described herein.

Aspects of the operating environments and components described abovewill become apparent in the context of the systems and methods disclosedherein.

B. Coexistence Management

This disclosure describes methods and systems for coexistence managementusing cross-RAT information exchange. In one or more embodiments,coexistence management is implemented using existing (e.g., LTE-U, LAAor WiFi) or modified protocols and/or behaviors for instance, such assnooping information about a first RAT by a device of another RAT, orthe use of a low or high latency interface between RATs to shareinformation. In one or more embodiments, the shared or acquiredinformation is used to determine whether a LTE-based or WiFi device, forinstance, should attempt access to the unlicensed band in the presenceof device(s) operating under a different RAT, and if so how aggressivelyto attempt access and coexist fairly. In one or more embodiments, amechanism that is centralized or distributed or otherwise, providesscheduling functionality to dynamically schedule or coordinatetransmissions relating to changes in the shared information. In one ormore embodiments, this mechanism in the form of a joint self-organizingnetwork (SON) that implements network adjustments to accommodatemulti-RAT coexistence or a new RAT entrant. In one or more embodiments,the scheduling mechanism coordinates transmissions and/or receptionacross RATs to avoid overlap in time and frequency. For example, and inone or more embodiments, a device of a first RAT provides a transmitindication of a transmission start time, duration, etc., to reserve achannel from being occupied another RAT.

In one or more embodiments, coexistence management between RATs includesfor example managing co-existence of LTE-U and WLAN operation acrossdevices operating within an unlicensed or WLAN (sometimes referred to asWiFi or 802.11) frequency band or spectrum. WLAN frequency bands (e.g.,in the 5GHz band) are as yet unlicensed for use by LTE devices. Hence,coordination between LTE and WLAN operation would be beneficial if LTEdevices are to operate in the same frequency bands. Unlicensed bandsprovide unlicensed access for short range radio transmissions, in one ormore embodiments. Unlicensed bands include WLAN, WiFi or 802.11frequency bands, in one or more embodiments. Unlicensed bands includeIndustrial, Scientific and Medical (ISM) bands, in one or moreembodiments. LTE-U is sometimes referred to as LTE over unlicensed, orLTE in unlicensed spectrum. LAA is sometimes referred to as LAA LTE, orLAA using LTE. Any of these terms may be used interchangeably in thisdisclosure. In one or more embodiments, LAA refers to 3GPP efforts tostandardize operation of LTE in the WLAN bands.

In one aspect, this disclosure is directed to a method for managingco-existence includes scheduling, for a first access point, a time tobegin transmission of a packet to a user device in an unlicensedfrequency band using a first radio access technology (RAT). The time tobegin the transmission is scheduled to avoid transmission overlap with asecond access point using a second RAT in the unlicensed frequency band,and scheduled according to information from the second access pointregarding operation in the unlicensed frequency band using the secondRAT, in one or more embodiments. One of the first and second RATsincludes one of a WLAN RAT or a LTE based RAT, and another of the firstand second RATs includes a remaining one of the WLAN RAT or the LTEbased RAT, in one or more embodiments. In one or more embodiments, thefirst access point receives updated information regarding operation inthe unlicensed frequency band using the second RAT. In one or moreembodiments, using the updated information, an updated time for thefirst access point to begin the transmission using the first RAT isdetermined, the updated time determined to avoid transmission overlapwith the second RAT in the unlicensed frequency band. In one or moreembodiments, the first access point transmits, according to thedetermined updated time, the packet in the unlicensed frequency bandusing the first RAT.

In one or more embodiments, the updated time is determined in one of: acentral scheduler for the first and second RATs, a distributed schedulersystem including at least one device operating in the first RAT and atleast one device operating in the second RAT, or a user terminaloperating in at least one of the first RAT and the second RAT. In one ormore embodiments, the updated time is determined using the informationfrom the second access point, the updated information, and informationregarding operation using the first RAT in the unlicensed frequencyband. In one or more embodiments, the updated time is determined bynegotiating between the first access point using the first RAT, and atleast one device using the second RAT in the unlicensed frequency band.In one or more embodiments, the updated time is determined by allocatingor re-allocating a channel for the transmission or a transmission usingthe second RAT, initiating a transmission back off by a device of thesecond RAT, or obtaining pre-approval for the transmission to begin atthe updated time.

In one or more embodiments, the first access point receives the updatedinformation by intercepting, by the first access point, a communicationin second RAT, and at least one of extracting or decoding at least aportion of the updated information from the intercepted communication.In one or more embodiments, a SON is established between at least thefirst access point and one or more devices operating in the unlicensedfrequency band using the second RAT, the SON implementing a networkadjustment to accommodate the transmission by the first access point atthe updated time. In one or more embodiments, the second access pointdetermines, responsive to the transmission using the first RAT, totransition a device of the second RAT to a third RAT or anotherfrequency band for transmitting a packet. In one or more embodiments,the first access point sends to a device of the second RAT responsive tothe determined updated time, one or more transmit indications eachincluding at least one of a corresponding transmission start time,transmission duration, or transmission channel number. In one or moreembodiments, determining the updated time further includes coordinatingtransmissions in the unlicensed frequency band between at least thefirst access point using the first RAT and at least one device using thesecond RAT.

In another aspect, this disclosure is directed to a system for managingco-existence. In one or more embodiments, the system includes a firstaccess point operating in an unlicensed frequency band using a firstRAT. In one or more embodiments, a scheduling engine determines, for thefirst access point, a time to begin transmission of a packet to a userdevice in the unlicensed frequency band using the first RAT. In one ormore embodiments, the time to begin the transmission is determined toavoid transmission overlap with a second access point using a second RATin the unlicensed frequency band, and scheduled according to informationfrom the second access point regarding operation in the unlicensedfrequency band using the second RAT. In one or more embodiments, one ofthe first and second RATs includes one of a WLAN RAT or a LTE based RAT,and another of the first and second RATs includes a remaining one of theWLAN RAT or the LTE based RAT. In one or more embodiments, the firstaccess point receives updated information regarding operation in theunlicensed frequency band using the second RAT. In one or moreembodiments, the scheduling engine determines, using the updatedinformation, an updated time for the first access point to begin thetransmission using the first RAT, the updated time determined to avoidtransmission overlap with the second RAT in the unlicensed frequencyband. In one or more embodiments, the first access point transmits,according to the determined updated time, the packet in the unlicensedfrequency band using the first RAT.

In one or more embodiments, the scheduling engine includes one of acentral scheduler for the first and second RATs, a distributed schedulersystem including at least one device operating in the first RAT and atleast one device operating in the second RAT, or a user terminaloperating in at least one of the first RAT and the second RAT. In one ormore embodiments, the scheduling engine determines the updated timeusing the information from the second access point, the updatedinformation, and information regarding operation using the first RAT inthe unlicensed frequency band. In one or more embodiments, thescheduling engine at least one of allocates or re-allocates a channelfor the transmission or a transmission using the second RAT, initiates atransmission back off by a device of the second RAT, or obtainspre-approval for the transmission to begin at the updated time. In oneor more embodiments, the first access point intercepts a communicationin second RAT, and at least one of extracts or decodes at least aportion of the updated information from the intercepted communication.

In one or more embodiments, the scheduling engine determines, responsiveto the transmission using the first RAT, to transition a device of thesecond RAT to a third RAT or another frequency band for transmitting apacket. In one or more embodiments, the first access point sends to adevice of the second RAT responsive to the determined updated time, oneor more transmit indications each including at least one of acorresponding transmission start time, transmission duration, ortransmission channel number. In one or more embodiments, the schedulingengine coordinates transmissions in the unlicensed frequency bandbetween at least the first access point using the first RAT and at leastone device using the second RAT.

In another aspect, this disclosure is directed to a method for managingco-existence. In one or more embodiments, a time to begin transmissionof a packet in an unlicensed frequency band using a first RAT isdetermined for a first access point. In one or more embodiments, thetime to begin the transmission is scheduled to avoid transmissionoverlap with a device using a second RAT in the unlicensed frequencyband, and scheduled according to received information regardingoperation in the unlicensed frequency band using the second RAT. In oneor more embodiments, the first RAT includes a wireless local areanetwork RAT or a long term evolution based RAT. In one or moreembodiments, the first access point receives updated informationregarding operation in the unlicensed frequency band using the secondRAT. In one or more embodiments, using the updated information, anupdated time for the first access point to begin the transmission usingthe first RAT is determined, the updated time determined to avoidtransmission overlap with the second RAT in the unlicensed frequencyband. In one or more embodiments, the first access point transmits, atthe updated time, the packet in the unlicensed frequency band using thefirst RAT. In one or more embodiments, receiving the updated informationincludes intercepting, by the first access point, a communication insecond RAT, and at least one of extracting or decoding at least aportion of the updated information from the intercepted communication.

In one or more embodiments, the disclosure is directed to a method formulti-RAT or multi-protocol coexistence. In one or more embodiments, adevice operating within a frequency band of a wireless local areanetwork, but operating in a first RAT such as a non-WLAN (e.g., LAA)protocol, determines that the frequency band is quiet at a first timeinstance (e.g., listen before talk—LBT) before accessing the frequencyband. In one or more embodiments, a device operating in a first RAT(e.g., a WLAN device) is implemented to defer to signals (e.g., ofanother RAT) above a predefined energy detection (ED) threshold. Aco-existence mechanism based on ED is sometimes not reliable, forexample where there is significant energy level fluctuation.

In the absence of suitable mechanisms for cross-RAT (such as LTE-U andWLAN) coexistence, one or both of the RATs' system throughputs cansuffer due to collisions, in one or more embodiments. In one or moreembodiments, some or most collisions cannot be countered by MCSadjustment. For instance, if no ED deferral to WLAN is implemented in aLTE-U device, WLAN system could suffer substantially in systemthroughput. For instance, fairness in spectrum usage is questionablewhere WLAN or WiFi bands are being invaded and surrendered to LAA/LTE-Ucontrol and decision-making. Invasive access occurs after a simplisticchannel access approach is applied, e.g., carrier sense. Therefore, aLAA/LTE-U device can intrude on or enter WiFi bands when the devicedetects a clear channel and continue communications while not offering aWiFi device a chance to interrupt, in one or more embodiments.

In one or more embodiments, a scheduling mechanism uses cross-RATinformation sharing or exchange to determine when a device of a firstRAT (e.g., LTE-U/LAA device) might attempt access to an unlicensedfrequency band that is in use by one or more devices of a second RAT(e.g., WiFi), or vice versa. In one or more embodiments, the schedulingmechanism responds to a change in the cross-RAT information to scheduleor re-schedule a transmission that avoids overlapping with transmissionsof the other RAT in time or frequency, thereby enabling coexistencebetween RATs that presently do not communicate or coordinate betweenthemselves to achieve a reasonable level of fairness in sharing theunlicensed frequency band. Although this disclosure sometimes describesa LTE based (e.g., LTE-U or LAA) device operating in relation to aWLAN/WiFi device, this is merely by way of illustration and not intendedto be limiting in any way. It is should be understood that any device ofa first RAT can operate in relation to a device of a different or eventhe same RAT, in like manner. In one aspect, the present disclosureprovides a dual RAT solution where one is an intruder into another RAT'sfrequency band, which does not have to be an unlicensed band. Forexample, the dual RAT solution could apply to coexistence managementbetween BT and WLAN.

In one or more embodiments, LAA setup and/or coexistence within WiFibands is managed via cross sharing of underlying operating information(e.g., WiFi to LAA, and LAA to WiFi). In one or more embodiments, theshared information provides (a) a LAA/LTE-U device or facilitator withWiFi operating data for use in determining whether a LAA device shouldattempt access and if so how aggressively to attempt access and/orcoexist; and/or provides (b) a WiFi device or facilitator with data(e.g., using an enhancement to current protocols) about LAA/LTE-Uoperation that could assist the WiFi device or facilitator in carryingout its own coexistence behavior(s). In some embodiments, this sharingor exchange of data occurs when LAA/LTE-U eNBs and WiFi APs areco-located within a determined or specified region.

In one or more embodiments, one or more types of information arereceived, accessed, exchanged or shared (in one or both directionsrelative to each pair of RATs). The types of information include, forexample:

Information about UEs being serviced by a particular RAT and/or anaccess point of the RAT, such as the number of UEs serviced, thegeographical distribution of the UEs, number of transmit spatialstreams, and data load with each UE;

Information about channel loading by a particular RAT and/or an accesspoint of the RAT, such as bandwidth utilization, subband occupancy orutilization, loading due to directional and/or omnidirectional modetransmissions, dropped packets, level of queuing/buffering, etc., at aparticular instance or over time;

Information about data types (e.g., carried by a particular RAT and/oran access point of the RAT), such as video data, audio data, multimediadata, control signals, data associated with real time or near real timedelivery, data of various levels of priority, urgency or importance,data associated with transmissions of specific length(s), datacharacterized by certain transmission gaps, data characterized bycertain transmission pattern(s), data associated with certainapplication classification(s), etc.;

Information about quality of service (QoS) pertaining to a RAT and/oraccess point, such as target or guaranteed level(s) and/or threshold(s)for transmission rates and/or error rates, use of best effort protocols,link quality, channel state information (CSI), channel aging, Dopplerchanges, received signal strength information (RSSI), etc.;

Information on operators, such as operator identifier(s) correspondingto a RAT and/or a corresponding access point, such as identifier(s) ofwireless or broadband service provider(s) or carrier(s), etc.;

Information on timing data according to operation in a RAT and/or of anaccess point, such as clocking information, scheduling information,channel reservation periods, inter-transmission gap, periodicity oftransmission/sounding frames, time of flight of a transmission, etc.;

Information on UE reception experience data or metrics, e.g.,signal-to-interference-plus-noise ratio (SINR), signal-to-noise ratio(SNR), channel estimation information, failed access attempt data,urgency data, dropped packets information, path loss, CSI, transmissionlatency, etc.;

Information on IP addresses and/or other address identifiers from a RAT,such as an address for identifying a particular user terminal, orquantifying channel usage, etc.;

Information on channels and channel numbers (e.g., for WLAN), such asthe number of channels, channel identifiers, and/or frequency band orrange of each channel;

Scheduler information for a RAT and/or a corresponding access point,such as time and/or length of one or more transmissions,inter-transmission gap(s), priority level of a scheduled transmission,frequency/time division multiplexing configuration information, and/orclock information;

Information on power levels of one or more transmissions of a RAT and/orcorresponding transmitter(s), and/or ED detection levels and/orthresholds, transmission power capability of a correspondingtransmitter;

Information on neighboring nodes for one or more RATs, e.g., of one ormore nodes of a same or different RAT, relative to a first RAT, such asnode count, geographical distribution, inter-node communications and/orco-existence configurations;

Information on UE data and/or parameters corresponding to a RAT and/or acorresponding access point, such as modulation and coding scheme (MCS),transmission power, data rate, SINR, SNR, etc.,

Information on channel busy parameters of a RAT and/or a correspondingaccess point, such as channel reservation signals or parameters, beaconor notification information,

Information on delay times of a RAT and/or a corresponding access point,such as transmission and/or response latency;

Buffer and/or queue information of a RAT and/or a corresponding accesspoint, such as capacity of a buffer or queue, and/or levels of pendingdata or transmissions in the buffer or queue;

Information on path loss experienced by a RAT and/or a correspondingaccess point, such as attenuation of signal, fluctuations or patterns insignal power levels, information from channel estimation or CSI; and/or

Status, capability and/or usage related data of a RAT and/or acorresponding access point, such as data transmission rate, operationmode (e.g., active, inactive, sleep, power-saving modes), powertransmission levels, bandwidth utilization, number of spatial transmitstreams supported, information included in a very high throughput (VHT)capabilities information field of a frame, dimensionality of an accesspoint, single-user and/or multi-use multiple-input multiple output(MIMO) capabilities and/or configuration, etc.

In one or more embodiments, one or more RAT-specific or inter-RATmechanisms or pathways for receiving, intercepting, extracting,accessing, passing, exchanging, communicating or otherwise sharing suchinformation is available. For example and in one or more embodiments,the information can be accessed or received via anoperator/in-home/enterprise backhaul connection (e.g., between RATs). Inone or more embodiments, a backhaul connects two radio access networks(RANs), allowing information from one RAT to be appropriately translatedand/or communicated for consumption by another RAT or by a cross-RATcoordination or management system. In one or more embodiments, thebackhaul includes one or more intermediary devices that receives theinformation in a protocol or format specific to a source RAN, orindependent or different from a native protocol or format of the sourceRAN. For instance, a source RAN may include an access point or entitythat converts the information to a non-native format beforecommunicating the converted information to the backhaul, destined for adestination RAN or a cross-RAT coordination or management system.

In one or more embodiments, the information is accessed or received viaa wireless link (e.g., single or multi-hop) between access points ofeach RAT (e.g., from an LTE based eNB to a WiFi base station). Forexample, the information can be accessed or received via any short,intermediate or long range radio or wireless transmission, in one ormore embodiments. The wireless transmission can use existing protocolsfrom either of the two RATs, or use a common communication protocolsupported by devices of both RATs, in one or more embodiments. Awireless linkage between access points of each RAT includes one or morehops (e.g., through one or more repeaters, relays, access points, oruser devices) to convey the information. In one or more embodiments,multiple wireless hops could include the use of multiple communicationsprotocols, e.g., Bluetooth, WLAN, etc.

In one or more embodiments, the information is accessed or received viaUE or user device relaying (e.g., one or more relaying or repeaternodes) and/or relaying via any other types of intermediaries such asaccess points (e.g., eNBs, base stations) in one or more RATs. Forexample, information from an access point operating in a first RAT istransmitted or relayed via one or more relay devices operating in atleast a first RAT, in one or more embodiments. The information isfurther transmitted or relayed via one or more relay devices operatingin at least a second RAT, in one or more embodiments. Eachdevice-to-device relay segment is wired or wireless. For instance, somesegments are wired and others wireless, in one or more embodiments.

In one or more embodiments, the information is accessed or received viainternal circuitry or bus structures. For example, where LAA/LTE-U/LTEeNB and WiFi are within a single device or box, the information sharingtakes place within the device or box, between two RAT subsystems). Inone or more embodiments, the internal circuitry or bus structures storesor buffers the information from one RAT subsystem at a memory location,for access by another RAT subsystem. In one or more embodiments, theinformation is accessed or received via a central information repositoryor collection and/or dissemination point. For example, a centralexternal database or server obtains or receives the information about afirst RAT, and redirects the information to a device of a second rate,in one or more embodiments. In one or more embodiments, the centralexternal database or server stores the information for retrieval by aninterested device of a second RAT.

In one or more embodiments, some types of information are exchanged orshared using or leveraging on conventional methods, such as carriersense or ED. In one or more embodiments, one or more of suchconventional methods are available under existing standards orcommunication protocols, such as those based on IEEE 802.11 or 3GPP. Inone or more embodiments, some types of information are exchanged orshared, alternatively or additionally, using active, modified and/orcustom protocols, such as modified WiFi and/or LTE based protocols,features and/or behaviors.

In one or more embodiments, one or more types of the information areexchanged or shared through one single path/method, or through anycombination of available paths/methods described herein. In one or moreembodiments, one or more factors or conditions such as latency,bandwidth and/or other link characteristics described herein play a partin routing decisions (e.g., if more than one route/methods exists),and/or in selecting coexistence behavior options. In one or moreembodiments, the present system makes intrusion and/or coexistencedecisions (dynamically or otherwise), using such exchanged or gatheredinformation, along with local data and/or information. In one or moreembodiments, the local data and/or information includes informationnative or pertaining to the RAT that is considering the informationgathered from another RAT. In one or more embodiments, local and/orgathered information are used to determine an appropriate entrance intoa shared band, or a fair coexistence between RATs.

A fair or balanced coexistence, in one or more embodiments, refers to anallocation or usage of the shared band between two or more RATsdetermined to allow operation that meets respective QoS, bandutilization threshold and/or other metric(s) of the RATs. In one or moreembodiments, a fair or balanced coexistence between RATs refers tooperation according to a predetermined partition or allocation ofbandwidth utilization to one or both RATs. In one or more embodiments,an imbalance (or unfair balance) of usage between RATs refers to a firstRAT (e.g., an access point of the first RAT) using a share of theunlicensed band that is below a predetermined threshold.

In one or more embodiments, with the exchange of information,coordinated coexistence is carried out using a shared LAA/LTE-U and WiFischeduler mechanism, system or architecture. In one or more embodiments,the scheduler receives the information identified above, to carry out adynamic scheduling process. In one or more embodiments, mechanisms orarchitectural approaches for the scheduler include (i) backhaul linkagesto one or more central schedulers associated with entire LTE based(e.g., eNB), WiFi (e.g., access point) networks; (ii) multi-RAT singlebox or device with an internal scheduler; (iii) dynamic master-slave ortoken-like configurations; (iv) shared scheduling duties (e.g., someduties or functions performed by WiFi side and some by LTE based side);(v) UE-side scheduler functionality; (vi) a central primary portion, aLTE based eNB portion and/or a WiFi AP scheduler portion with dutycarve-ups; and (vii) any other combinations of the above both infixed/static and dynamic configurations.

In one or more embodiments, scheduling functionality or duties aremanaged within a single node or distributed across any combination ofnodes (base stations, central systems, UEs, etc.) to work independentlyor in concert regarding particular scheduling functions. For instance,FIG. 2A depicts one embodiment of a system for co-existence management,involving at least two scheduler portions. The extent, level or amountof scheduling (e.g., more or less scheduling functionality beingintroduced) could be dynamic and range from highly involved, detailedand low latency scheduling, to minor and high latency supportivescheduling functionality. In one or more embodiments, such supportivescheduling functionality includes, for instance, setup (e.g., RAT systeminitialization or configuration) and/or (channel) release relatedfunctionality. The scheduling or rescheduling, or extent thereof, isdynamic in one or more embodiments, relating to changes in informationexchanged. In one or more embodiments, the scheduling or rescheduling,or extent thereof, is fixed for a particular session and/or currentlocal environment. In one or more embodiments, the scheduling orrescheduling, or extent thereof, adapts on the fly per stream,transmission or session, for example according to or responsive to a(de)attach event, packet performance or transmission rate, channelcondition, data type change, etc.

In one or more embodiments, the scheduling or rescheduling, or extentthereof, considers multi-operator scheduling concerns. For instance, inone or more embodiments, the scheduler attempts to allocate band usage(e.g., balance fair usage) between two or more operators (e.g., AT&T,Verizon, T-Mobile, Sprint) providing service within a common RAT. In oneor more embodiments, the scheduler attempts to allocate band usagebetween two or more operators based on operating conditions/parametersthat are different between the two or more operators, e.g., according toinformation received from the RANs of the two or more operators.

In one or more embodiments, the scheduler (e.g., associated with a firstRAT) operates according to received/gathered information from a secondRAT, along with counterpart local info from the first RAT. In one ormore embodiments, the scheduler operates additionally throughnegotiation (e.g., with one or more RATs and/or corresponding accesspoints), to configure or implement a scheduling functionality set (suchas a scheduling or operating mode or configuration), and/or to identifyan available one or more nodes on which such set could be carried out.Thereafter, the scheduler dynamically adapts in a similar manner aschanges occur, for instance in the information being received/gathered,in one or more embodiments. In one or more embodiments, the schedulerattempts to avoid transmission overlap(s) across RANs in time andfrequency, and in some embodiments include associated powerconsiderations in the scheduling attempts. In one or more embodiments,the schedule performs scheduling operations, which includes for examplechannel (re)allocation, transmission back off or exit, gettingpreapproval (e.g., for a LAA/LTE-U device) to gain access to the desiredunlicensed band. In one or more embodiments, the scheduler obtainspreapproval from a first RAT (or corresponding device) that is presently(and/or has been) using or occupying the desired band, for a second RATto use, enter or operate in the desired band.

In one or more embodiments, a device of a first RAT (e.g., a LAA/LTE-Udevice) gathers at least some of the information directly from a secondRAT (e.g., a WiFi RAT, RAN or device(s)) via snooping or monitoring oftransmissions in the second RAT. For instance, the device of the firstdevice includes a sniffer or scanner function or subsystem to detectand/or monitor for such transmissions, and/or to access or extract theinformation from such transmissions. In one or more embodiments, thesnooping or monitoring is performed without the second RAT being aware.In one or more embodiments, this operation is in addition to, or in lieuof using a carrier sense approach for gaining access to a channel forinstance. In one or more embodiments, the snooping is performed by adevice of a specific RAT, a cross-RAT device, and/or a coordinatingdevice (with snooping functionality, e.g., a scheduler) for multi-RATco-existence management.

In one or more embodiments, this snooping or monitoring functionality isenabled using novel hardware and/or protocol definition not found incurrent standards or proposals. For instance, and in one or moreembodiments, the device of the first RAT includes, incorporates oraccesses a subsystem that has limited or full capabilities in accessingor using the second RAT. For example, and in one or more embodiments,the present solution includes enhancing existing WiFi protocol and/orusing specific hardware that support a WiFi node's snooping ofLAA/LTE-U/LTE transmissions.

In one or more embodiments, the communications protocol of one RAT ismodified or enhanced to include specific information to be shared forco-existence and/or intrusion management. For instance, and in one ormore embodiments, WiFi protocols are modified by defining further fieldsand/or packet transmissions which deliver information that might beshared with or received by another RAT. For example, additional fieldsare added to one or more packets/frames if current fields proveinsufficient to communicate such information.

In one or more embodiments, the snooping process includes extractinginformation from packets (e.g., WiFi packets) or portions thereof. Forexample, FIG. 2D depicts one embodiment of a packet from which toextract information. For instance, and in one or more embodiments, thepreamble port of a packet is identified, parsed and/or decoded, tolocate particular fields (e.g., rate, length fields) from whichinformation is extracted. Different packets (e.g., beacons, controlpackets, payload/data packets) and portions thereof (e.g., headers) havedifferent decode requirements, in one or more embodiments. Therefore inone or more embodiments, snooping capabilities could target one or moreof the more easily decodable portions of a packet, field or frame. Inone or more embodiments, snooping capabilities could include or extendto a more difficult portion of a packet, field or frame. For instance,in one or more embodiments, a snooping device enters a mode of operation(e.g., responsive to an inability or a requirement to obtain desired orenough information) wherein the snooping device decode an encryptedportion of a packet. For example, and in one or more embodiments, whenconsidering an initial WiFi channel grab, a simple snoop might besufficient, but a more difficult decode might be applied to gather datathat could be used for friendlier coexistence.

In one or more embodiments, the snooping device or process usescross-RAT clocking to facilitate decode of a transmission to obtaininformation, and/or synchronization of activity (e.g., forco-existence). In one or more embodiments, and by way of illustration, asnooping device (e.g., of a first RAT) performs snooping to accessinformation for coexistence purposes, and uses backhaul or otherpathways to access or exchange information for other purposes. Forexample, and in one or more embodiments, a snooping LAA/LTE-U deviceinitially performs snooping to decide whether or not to pursue aLAA/LTE-U transmission, and responsive to a decision to do so, attemptsto gather other information types via a backhaul pathway. Thereafter,the snooping device performs beacon or other packet snooping to acquireinformation, such as information that has no low latency typerequirement associated therewith (e.g., for co-existence management), inone or more embodiments.

In one or more embodiments, snooped information is used for local (e.g.,intra-RAT) access and/or cross-RAT coexistence decisions, or passedalong to a single RAT or multi-RAT scheduler architecture, embodimentsof which are described herein. The received information is, in one ormore embodiments, used for single RAT (WiFi or LTE-U/LAA) and/ormulti-RAT SON. In one or more embodiments, the snooping could beperformed by one or more node types operating in one or more RATs.Examples of possible node types involved in snooping include WiFi APs,LTE/LTE-U/LAA eNBs, UEs or user devices, other RAT-specific entitiesand/or non-RAT-specific entities.

By way of an illustrative embodiment, a snooping device performsmeasurement or determination of channel conditions via preambledetection. In one or more embodiments, a snooping device operates orintegrates with conventional WiFi/LTE based RAT and/or communicationprotocol, without needing further modifications to the WiFi/LTE basedstandard in some implementations. In one or more embodiments, a snoopingdevice (e.g., a LAA/LTE-U sniffer) leverages on frame preambles and/orcontrol messages (e.g., in WiFi) to support information exchange. Thisprovides support for minimizing or managing device power, and/ormeasurement of channel condition for instance, in one or moreembodiments. In one or more embodiments, snooped information is used topredict or determine ongoing activity, a time when a channel is notgoing to be available, and/or initiate or control over-the-air signalingto maximize sleep times, for example. By way of example, an eNB couldsupport WiFi preamble detection for robust coexistence with WiFi, in oneor more embodiments. In one or more embodiments, an eNB employs apreamble detection function to indirectly measure an overall channelcondition (e.g., WiFi traffic loading, co-channel interference (CCI) orasynchronous co-channel interference (ACCI), and/or noise, etc.) as anillustration. This measurement allows the eNB to perform “optimal”initial channel selection and/or in-service (e.g., intra-RAT) channelchanges.

For example, and referring again to FIG. 2D, an embodiment of preambledetection is depicted. By way of illustration, the rate field in anpreamble of a WiFi frame is read and/or decoded for MCS information. Inone or more embodiments, an WiFi node sets an MCS by WiFi linkadaptation, based on a WiFi node's own measurement of channel condition.In one or more embodiments, the WiFi node includes MCS values inpreambles of WiFi frames. An average of one or more of these MCS values(in detected preambles) is determined in one or more embodiments. In oneor more embodiments, an eNB for instance, uses the average MCS value todetermine an overall channel condition. By way of another example, thelength field in an preamble of a WiFi frame is read and/or decoded. AneNB for instance, determines or computes an aggregate length over agiven time period to derive a WiFi traffic loading of a channel, in oneor more embodiments. In one or more embodiments, the eNB usesconfigurable threshold values of the average MCS to determine initialchannel selection and/or dynamic channel change.

In one or more embodiments, staged snooping from RSSI through a fulldecode approach is performed. For example, via FFT spectrum monitoring,cyclic prefix, additional radar dynamic frequency selection (DFS),beacon decode, etc., could be performed. This depends on WiFiinformation and/or local counterpart (e.g., LAA/LTE-U) information forinstance, in one or more embodiments. This staging is dynamic in one ormore embodiments, based on types and/or content of snooped information,current coexistence configuration or mode, and/or stage of operation.

In one or more embodiments, a SON involves a single RAT, such as a WiFiSON. In one or more embodiments, local channel setup, selection and/orconfiguration takes place in association with a single base station of asingle RAN. In one or more embodiments, advanced approaches involvecoordination of multiple base stations within the RAN.

In one or more embodiments, information shared or gathered as describedabove is used to support joint self-organizing network or SONconfiguration. In one or more embodiments, one embodiment of a schedulerdescribed above supports the joint SON configuration. Neighboring nodeinformation (e.g., of both WiFi and LAA/LTE-U) is used to make multi-RATnetwork adjustments to accommodate an LAA/LTE-U entry or exit forinstance, in one or more embodiments. Such information is used to makemulti-RAT network adjustments for multi-RAN and/or multi-network nodecoexistence, in one or more embodiments. In one or more embodiments, byconsidering information associated with one or more neighboring LTEbased eNBs and one or more neighboring WiFi APs, coexistence decisionsand/or operational behaviors are carried out to create a more “fair” andefficient unlicensed band utilization. In one or more embodiments,network adjustments could involve any modifications to current WiFioperations across multiple neighboring APs to accommodate a new LTEbased eNB entrant for instance.

One or more nodes (of the joint SON) could accommodate current anddynamic changes associated with WiFi and/or LTE based traffic flow asidentified from any of the received or shared information. In one ormore embodiments, neighboring WiFi AP(s) and co-located neighboring orsolo LAA/LTE-U eNB(s) exchange information that assists in setup anddynamic access, channel usage, other coexisting techniques or usages,and/or full or partial releases/handovers, for instance. By way ofillustration, one environment could include an LAA eNB that overlaps twoWiFi APs that cannot communicate with or hear each other, but areoperating on different channels that limit a channel grab by the LAAeNB, in one or more embodiments. To accommodate the LAA eNB, the twoWiFi APs are able to be moved to a same or adjacent channels to yieldbandwidth to the LAA eNB, in one or more embodiments. In one or moreembodiments, accommodation is made by way of coordinating simultaneousuplink (or downlink) periods involving multiple WiFi APs and LAA eNBs.

By way of a non-limiting example, a co-located LAA eNB might desireoperation where a middling WiFi node has neighboring WiFi nodes withparticular current channel conditions and/or usages. Access to suchchannel condition and/or usage information could reveal a beneficialopportunity to tailor the operation of the co-located middling AP and/ortailor the neighboring WiFi APs to accommodate the LAA entry, in one ormore embodiments. In one or more embodiments, such multi-RAT SONfunctionality takes into consideration operating information ofLAA/LTE-U neighbors, and helps solve or address “starving” or “trapped”WiFi AP scenarios, and similarly apply to LTE based counterpartscenarios. In one or more embodiments, such multi-RAT SON functionalityaddresses cross-RAT starved or trapped requests for service in starvedor trapped situations.

Currently, a LAA/LTE-U device looks to gain a shared portion of WiFiband without considering WiFi band needs. Instead of merely adapting toaccommodate a bandwidth usurper (e.g., the LAA/LTE-U device) by merelysuffering the sharing situation, a current resident RAN potentially alsoin turn become an usurper of yet other bands. For example, upon or as aresult of an LAA/LTE-U intrusion, a WiFi AP might first respond byattempting to suffer the sharing situation, in one or more embodiment.Instead of suffering, or later when the sharing is determined to beproblematic or inadequate, the WiFi AP attempts to offload in whole orin part to Bluetooth (or other RAN) or to yet another band (where WiFibecomes the protocol of use), in one or more embodiment. Regarding thelatter, another unlicensed secondary band might become available forshared use by LAA and WiFi. If LAA enters the primary band (WiFi) whilea WiFi AP is co-located and currently supporting traffic flow, such WiFiAP may shift at least some of its traffic to the secondary band in whichthe WiFi protocol is still applied. Such “migration” of flows acrossmultiple available bands could occur in a reactive manner or benegotiated up front (e.g., with all involved base stations or accesspoints).

For example, in one or more embodiments, an WiFi AP negotiates with abase station resident of the secondary band and/or the LAA eNB beforeformulating its offload or suffering strategy. If an offload by the WiFiAP to a secondary band is determined to happen, it can take place beforean LAA entrant, e.g., to make room for the LAA entrant. In one or moreembodiments, such co-existence management is handled by a RAN's basestation independently, jointly or under a scheduler/controller'sdirection. In one or more embodiments, such handling occurs responsiveto, or in consideration of shared/gathered information relating to allassociated bands, band residents and/or usurpers. Coexistence behaviorsthat are initially set up, are dynamically updated upon migration eventsfor instance, in one or more embodiments. Such Coexistence behaviors aredynamically updated as any of the shared/gathered information associatedwith each co-located access point from any of the associated RANschanges. As multiple unlicensed bands open up, such functionality wouldbe applicable. For example, LAA might have to make decisions as to whichone or more of such bands to pursue, in one or more embodiments. WiFimight or might not do the same, in one or more embodiments.

In one or more embodiments, to support deterministic and/or periodicaltransmissions of voice over internet protocol (VoIP) and videoconferencing for instance, the present systems and methods involveenhancing or modifying the WLAN protocol for request to send (RTS),clear to send (CTS) and/or clear to send to nowhere (CTS2NW) forinstance, to indicate the transmission period, transmission size perperiod, number of transmission bursts, time offset for the firsttransmission burst, etc. A WLAN device, in one or more embodiments,stacks or transmits such RTS/CTS/CTS2NW frames periodically to renew atransmission opportunity period (TXOP) for continuous transmissions. ACTS or CTS2NW message from a device, in one or more embodiments, is usedto quiet or suppress the channel for a duration of time before thedevice begins to transmit. To ensure that the CTS or CTS2NW message doesnot collide with other communications in the band, the device determinesif the medium is quiet before sending the message to reserve the mediumfor operation by the device, in one or more embodiments. For example,the device performs CCA and/or sends a RTS message to determine if themedium is quiet in one or more embodiments. In one or more embodiments,such CTS, CTS2NW and/or RTS messages is modified to include theaforementioned information. This applies to any CTS based message, suchas CTS2SELF, CTS2N or CTS2SOMEWHERE.

For instance, FIG. 2E depicts one embodiment of a method for supportingdeterministic and/or periodical transmissions. In one or moreembodiments, a transmitting device performs a clear channel assessment(CCA) of the channel, and upon successful completion of the CCA,includes information such as transmission period, transmission size perperiod, number of transmission bursts, time offset for the firsttransmission burst, etc., into one or more signals (e.g., RTS, CTS,CTS2NW) for preparing a data transmission. In one or more embodiments,the included information provides notice to other devices (of the sameRAT or different RAT) of the upcoming data transmission and its channelusage. In one or more embodiments, other devices avoid channel access(and contention or collision) during one or more period of time based onthe included information. In one or more embodiments, the includedinformation is used to reserve the channel for the upcomingtransmission, e.g., from use or intrusion by the other devices. Byrenewing a transmission opportunity period periodically or otherwiseconsistent with the included information, the transmitting device isable to occupy the channel for an extended period for deterministicand/or periodical transmissions of VoIP and video conferencing forinstance. For instance, a second device is informed based on theincluded information that the number of transmissions or transmissionbursts is 3, and has the option to attempt CCA and channel access afterthe first device's third transmission, in one or more embodiments. Thisis in contrast to merely performing ED prior to each transmissionattempt for example, which does not adequately support deterministicand/or periodical transmissions in one or more embodiments.

In one or more embodiments, and by way of illustration, to introduce aLTE-U or non-WLAN device into a WLAN or unlicensed frequency band, thedevice sends a WLAN or 802.11 message to quiet the WLAN medium for aduration of time before the device begins to transmit in a non-WLANmode. In one or more embodiments, before actually sending thisWLAN/802.11 message, the device uses a mechanism, such as energydetection or RTS-CTS, to check whether the time is appropriate to sendthe message. This check avoids collision with other WLAN messages in oneor more embodiments. When WLAN devices in the area successfully detectthe message and refrain from operation for a duration of time specifiedin the message, in one or more embodiments. This allows the non-WLANdevice to operate in the WLAN frequency band without interference fromthe WLAN devices for the specified duration of time in one or moreembodiments.

Conventional LAA/LTE-U operation on the WiFi or unlicensed band involvestransmit decisions that have no time relationship with transmit andreception decisions in WLAN. In one or more embodiments, attempting toreceive a WLAN transmission during a period of ongoing LAA transmissionis problematic. In one or more embodiments, a scheduler or designatedentity coordinates all co-located WiFi and LAA/LTE-U transmissions tooccur in a same direction at a same time. For example, and in one ormore embodiments, through scheduling, common clocking, and/or lowlatency interfacing, an LAA/LTE-U eNB coordinates its downlinktransmissions with a co-located WiFi AP's downlink transmissions, e.g.,performing simultaneous or concurrent transmission. Simultaneoustransmission involves full to partial overlap (e.g., in time), in one ormore embodiments. In one or more embodiments, the scheduler ordesignated entity determines desired overlap situations wherein possiblydiffering time duration transmissions occur, and wherein the overlappositioning (scheduling) attempts to align transmission end-points tosupport simultaneous acknowledgment/negative acknowledgment (ack/nak)receipts). For instance, transmission overlap coordination, depending onthe embodiment, might be performed based on a more detailed mapping ofpacket lengths, control overlap, and possibly even frame overlayadjustments. In one or more embodiments, such coordination is carriedout by a WLAN as well as LAA enabled user device (e.g., UE) in uplink.

FIG. 2A depicts one embodiment of a system for co-existence management,involving at the use of a low latency interface. By way of anon-limiting example, one or more embodiments of the system includes alow-latency interface between co-located WLAN AP(s) and eNB(s) (e.g.,small cell nodes) to exchange transmission indications, for example,transmission start time, transmission duration, channel numbers (e.g.,primary/secondary channel numbers for WLAN), in one or more embodiments.FIG. 2B depicts one embodiment of a system for co-existence management,involving the use and/or exchange of transmission indications. In one ormore embodiments, an access point sends a transmission indication aftersuccessful completion of clear channel assessment. However, beforetransmission or completion of a transmission exchange (e.g.,RTS+CTS+Data+ACK, or Data+ACK), an eNB sends a transmission indication,e.g., before transmission of downlink (DL) data or grant for uplink (UL)data. In one or more embodiments, the transmission indications are sentor exchanged using the low-latency interface. The scheduler(s) of theaccess point and eNB then attempts to avoid transmission overlaps acrossRANs in time and frequency (and in some embodiments, power as a furtherdimension), for example using the transmission indications. FIG. 2Cdepicts one embodiment of co-existence management for avoiding overlapsacross channels.

In one or more embodiments, the interface between co-located accesspoints of different RATs does not have to support low latency exchangesor operation, and can instead use a common clock synchronization. Forexample, in one or more embodiments, with clock synchronization, highlatency advanced exchanges or coordination are supported via a centrallylocated scheduler or other scheduler architecture disclosed herein. Inone or more embodiments, and such cross-RAT coordination could beapplied between two LAA/LTE-U operators (e.g., between two differenteNBs) with or without coordination with an WLAN AP, or any combinationof the above.

Referring to FIG. 2F one or more embodiments of a system for managingcoexistence is depicted. In brief overview, the system includes, in oneor more embodiments, a scheduling system 289 for managing orcoordinating one or more devices 102, 103 operating within an unlicensedband (e.g., a WLAN frequency band or medium). The scheduling system 289is sometimes referred to as a scheduler 289, with features andfunctionality described above. The scheduler 289 includes one or moreof: a detector 222, a transmitter 224, a storage module 223, and one ormore subsystems 232, 233, in one or more embodiments. In one or moreembodiments, the scheduler 289 resides on one or more of user devices102 and/or one or more access points 103, of one or more RATs. As such,each user devices 102 or access points 103 could include some or allelements or components described above, such as a detector 222 and atransmitter 224. Each of these elements or components is implemented inhardware, or a combination of hardware and software, in one or moreembodiments. For instance, each of these elements or components caninclude any application, program, library, script, task, service,process or any type and form of executable instructions executing onhardware of the device 103, in one or more embodiments. The hardwareincludes one or more of circuitry or a processor, for example, asdescribed above in connection with at least 1B and 1C, in one or moreembodiments.

Although certain portions of the disclosure refer to coexistence betweenLTE based and WLAN communications and devices, these references aremerely for illustration and not intended to be limiting. For example,the coexistence can be between WLAN and non-WLAN devices, betweendevices using different communications protocols or RATs, and/or betweendevices using differing modulation techniques and/or having differingcapabilities.

In one or more embodiments, the device 103 includes a detector 222designed, built and/or implemented to detect, receive and/or snoop on asignal transmitted using any one or more of a plurality of RATs. In oneor more embodiments, the detector 222 is designed, built and/orimplemented to detect, monitor, read, receive, sense, measure, decode atleast a portion of the signal. For instance, the detector detects anenergy level of a signal and/or extracts information from a field of thesignal frame. In one or more embodiments, the detector 222 is designed,built and/or implemented to detect any type or form of signals ortransmissions, such as data or payload transmissions, packets, frames,control signals, handshaking signals, uplink and/or downlinktransmissions, etc., and could include sounding frames, feedback frames,sounding sequences, beacons, null data packet (NDP) frames, announcementframes, broadcast frames, control frames, CTS and/or RTS basedtransmissions, etc.

In one or more embodiments, the detector 222 is designed, built and/orimplemented to read, parse and/or decode at least a portion of areceived or intercepted frame, such as a preamble of a frame. In one ormore embodiments, the preamble portion, or another portion being read ordecoded, includes one or more predefined patterns or sequences of dataor information, e.g., according to an associated communications protocoland/or RAT.

In one or more embodiments, the scheduler 289 includes a transmitter 224implemented to transmit one or more messages in one or more specificcommunication protocols or RATs (e.g., a WLAN protocol and/or a LTEprotocol). For example, the scheduler 289 transmits, via the transmitter224, one or more instructions or requests to a RAT-specific device(e.g., an access point operating under a first RAT) to operate in acertain manner, such as to transmit at a scheduled time, in one or moreembodiments. In one or more embodiments, the transmitter 224 transmitsone or more instructions or requests to one or more devices of one ormore RATs to manage cross-RAT co-existence in an unlicensed band forinstance. In one or more embodiments, the transmitter 224 conveysinformation about a first RAT, to a second RAT for use in co-existencemanagement, and/or to determine whether and/or when to initiate channelaccess. The transmitter 224 transmits using wireless and/or wiredtransmission(s). One or more of these transmissions (of instructions,requests and/or information) is based on, or uses information sharedwith or received by the scheduler 289. For instance, an access point 103of a first RAT shares operating information about the first RAT with thescheduler 289, so that the scheduler is able to perform cross-RATcoordination or management, or determine appropriate operation in asecond RAT.

In one or more embodiments, a device operating under a first RAT (e.g.,access point 103 or user device 102) includes a transmitter 224 residingin a RAT-specific device. In one or more embodiments, the transmitter224 is designed, built and/or implemented to transmit a communicate aframe or packet that includes information about a first RAT forinstance. The information might correspond to information intended ornot intended to be shared or accessed by another device (e.g., asnooping device, a device of another RAT, a scheduler 289). In one ormore embodiments, the transmitter is designed and/or implemented toinclude the information in a frame, packet or transmission.

In one or more embodiments, the scheduler 289 includes a decision engine244. In one or more embodiments, the decision engine 244 performsdeterminations or makes decisions for intra or cross RAT coordination ofoperations and/or co-existence management. In one or more embodiments,the decision engine 244 performs determinations or makes decisions forscheduling functions and/or actions, such as determining a time forinitiating channel access or a transmission. In one or more embodiments,the decision engine 244 determinates the information to include in atransmission, e.g., to one or more access points of one or more RATs. Inone or more embodiments, the decision engine 244 determinates if thereis an imbalance or unfair share of channel usage, and/or an actionresponsive to the determination. In one or more embodiments, thedecision engine 244 determinates what information to use, receive oracquire from RAT-specific or other devices, and/or when to access or usesuch information. In one or more embodiments, the decision engine 244determinates an operational (e.g., co-existence) mode, configurationand/or settings (e.g., transmission parameters) for one or more RATSand/or corresponding device(s). In one or more embodiments, thedetermination is according to, or based on information received orshared, e.g., about one or more RATs and/or corresponding device(s).

In one or more embodiments, the scheduler 289 and/or the decision engine244 is implemented at least in part to accommodate co-existence orRAT-specific operation. For instance, the scheduler 289 instructs aLTE-U base station to leave some time in a LTE-U schedule unallocated inone or more embodiments. The scheduler 289 instructs the LTE-U basestation to implement at least one time period that provides a free oridle medium for WLAN (or non-LTE based) operation, for example. Thescheduler 289 instructs one or more WLAN devices 102 to obeylisten-before-talk (LBT) protocol and ED deferral during normal,scheduled times for LTE-U operation, in one or more embodiments. One ormore WLAN devices 102 is able to operate during an LTE-U unscheduledtime period, in one or more embodiments.

The scheduler 289 includes a storage module 223 in one or moreembodiments. The storage module 223 is implemented, designed and/orbuilt to maintain, hold or otherwise store any type or form ofinformation such as information received or shared, including previouslyobtained information and/or updated information. The storage module 223includes any embodiment of elements and/or features of storage 128, mainmemory 122 and/or cache 140 described above in connection with at leastFIGS. 1B and 1C, in one or more embodiments.

In one or more embodiments, any of the components (e.g., detector 222 ortransmitter 224) operates with one or more subsystems 232, 233 to accessRAT or protocol specific features, such as RAT-specific decodingcapabilities for decoding a RAT-specific packet that is received orintercepted by the detector 222. A transmitter 224 operates with one ormore subsystems 232, 233 for RAT-specific definitions to generate aRAT-specific frame, in one or more embodiments. A decision engine 244operates with one or more subsystems 232, 233 for RAT-specificdefinitions to process received or stored information that isRAT-specific.

Referring now to FIGS. 2G and 2H, one or more embodiments of a methodfor coexistence management is depicted. In one or more embodiments, themethod includes acquiring, by a first access point configured to operatein an unlicensed frequency band using a first RAT, from at least onedevice operating in the unlicensed frequency band using a second RAT,information regarding operation of the at least one device in theunlicensed frequency band using the second RAT (operation 201). A timeis scheduled, for the first access point, to begin transmission of apacket to a user device in the unlicensed frequency band using the firstRAT, the time to begin the transmission scheduled to avoid transmissionoverlap with the at least one device operating in the unlicensedfrequency band, and scheduled according to the acquired information(operation 203). The first access point intercepts a communication froma device of the second RAT (operation 205). The first access pointacquires updated information regarding operation of the at least onedevice in the unlicensed frequency band using the second RAT, theacquiring comprising at least one of extracting or decoding at least aportion of the updated information from the intercepted communication(operation 207).

An updated time is determined, using the updated information, for thefirst access point to begin the transmission using the first RAT, theupdated time determined to avoid transmission overlap with the secondRAT in the unlicensed frequency band (operation 209). Allocating orre-allocating a channel for the transmission, initiating a transmissionback off by a device of the second RAT, and/or obtaining pre-approvalfor the transmission to begin at the updated time (operation 211). Thefirst access point sends to a device of the second RAT responsive to thedetermined updated time, one or more transmit indications eachcomprising at least one of a corresponding transmission start time,transmission duration, or transmission channel number (operation 213).The first access point transmits, according to the determined updatedtime, the packet in the unlicensed frequency band using the first RAT(operation 215). A device of the second RAT determines, responsive tothe transmission using the first RAT, to transition to a third RAT oranother frequency band for transmitting a packet (operation 217).

Referring now to operation 201, and in one or more embodiments, a firstaccess point, operating in an unlicensed frequency band using a firstRAT, acquires from at least one device operating in the unlicensedfrequency band using a second RAT, information regarding operation ofthe at least one device in the unlicensed frequency band using thesecond RAT. In one or more embodiments, the first RAT is a RAT differentfrom the second RAT. For instance, and in one or more embodiments, thefirst RAT corresponds to one a WLAN RAT and the second RAT correspondsto a LTE based RAT.

In one or more embodiments, the first access point acquires theinformation from an access point and/or user device operating in theunlicensed frequency band using the second

RAT, such as an eNB and/or UE using a LTE based RAT. In one or moreembodiments, the first access point acquires the information from one ormore of: a coordinating device, a scheduler, a central controller, oranother device operating in the first RAT. In one or more embodiments,the first access point acquires any type or form of informationdescribed above. In one or more embodiments, the first access pointreceives, acquires, obtains, detects, measures, determines, extracts,accesses and/or decodes the information from the second RAT or acorresponding RAN. In one or more embodiments, the first access pointreceives or acquires the information from one or more packets, frames ortransmissions of any type.

Referring now to operation 203, and in one or more embodiments, a timeis scheduled, for the first access point, to begin transmission of apacket to a user device in the unlicensed frequency band using the firstRAT. In one or more embodiments, the time to begin the transmission isscheduled to avoid transmission overlap with the at least one deviceoperating in the unlicensed frequency band, and scheduled according tothe acquired information. In one or more embodiments, a coordinatingdevice, central controller or scheduler, of any of the disclosedembodiments, schedules the time to begin transmission. In one or moreembodiments, the scheduling entity determines the time to begintransmission, based at least in part on the received or acquiredinformation. In one or more embodiments, the scheduling entitydetermines the time to begin transmission, based at least in part onlocal (e.g., intra-RAT, first RAT) information.

Referring now to operation 205, and in one or more embodiments, thefirst access point intercepts, detects or receives a communication froma device of the second RAT. In one or more embodiments, the first accesspoint monitors for one or more transmissions in the second RAT, forupdated operating information about the second RAT. In one or moreembodiments, the first access point intercepts the communication byperforming ED or preamble detection in the unlicensed spectrum.

Referring now to operation 207, and in one or more embodiments, thefirst access point acquires updated information regarding operation ofthe at least one device in the unlicensed frequency band using thesecond RAT, the acquiring including at least one of extracting ordecoding at least a portion of the updated information from theintercepted communication. In one or more embodiments, the first accesspoint decodes and/or extracts one or more target or desired portions ofthe communication. In one or more embodiments, the first access point ofthe updated information decodes and/or extracts at least a portion ofthe information from the one or more target or desired portions of thecommunication. In one or more embodiments, the updated informationincludes new or addition information about the second RAT and/or aboutthe operation of the at least one device in the unlicensed frequencyband using the second RAT.

For example, and in one or more embodiments, the first access pointobtains one or more transmit indications from the second RAT. In one ormore embodiments, a device of the second RAT provides the one or moretransmit indications each comprising at least one of a correspondingtransmission start time, transmission duration, or transmission channelnumber, associated with the second RAT. In one or more embodiments, thedevice of the second RAT includes, injects or incorporates the one ormore transmit indications into one or more frames (e.g., RTS and/or CTSbased frames).

Referring now to operation 209, and in one or more embodiments, anupdated time is determined, using the updated information, for the firstaccess point to begin the transmission using the first RAT, the updatedtime determined to avoid transmission overlap with the second RAT in theunlicensed frequency band. In one or more embodiments, the updated timeis determined by a scheduler. In one or more embodiments, the schedulerresides in the first access point. In one or more embodiments, theupdated time is determined in one of: a central scheduler for the firstand second RATs, a distributed scheduler system having at least onedevice operating in the first RAT and at least one device operating inthe second RAT, or a user terminal operating in at least one of thefirst RAT and the second RAT.

In one or more embodiments, the scheduler and/or the first access pointdetermines the updated time using the information from the second accesspoint, the updated information, and information regarding operationusing the first RAT in the unlicensed frequency band. In one or moreembodiments, determining the updated time involves negotiating betweenthe first access point using the first RAT, and at least one deviceusing the second RAT in the unlicensed frequency band. In one or moreembodiments, determining the updated time involves coordinatingtransmissions in the unlicensed frequency band between at least thefirst access point using the first RAT and at least one device using thesecond RAT.

Referring now to operation 211, and in one or more embodiments, thescheduler and/or the first access point determines to allocate orre-allocate a channel for the transmission, initiate a transmission backoff by a device of the second RAT, and/or obtain pre-approval for thetransmission to begin at the updated time. In one or more embodiments,the scheduler and/or the first access point coordinates operationsbetween the first and second RAT to enable or accommodate transmissionat the updated time.

In one or more embodiments, one or more devices of the first RAT and thesecond RAT establishes a SON. In one or more embodiments, the SON isestablished between at least the first access point and one or moredevices operating in the unlicensed frequency band using the second RAT.In one or more embodiments, the SON implements a network adjustment toaccommodate the transmission by the first access point at the updatedtime.

Referring now to operation 213, and in one or more embodiments, thefirst access point sends to a device of the second RAT responsive to thedetermined updated time, one or more transmit indications eachcomprising at least one of a corresponding transmission start time,transmission duration, or transmission channel number, associated withthe first RAT. In one or more embodiments, the second access point usesthe one or more transmit indications to avoid transmission overlap withthe first access point in at least time and frequency.

Referring now to operation 215, and in one or more embodiments, thefirst access point transmits, according to the determined updated time,the packet in the unlicensed frequency band using the first RAT. Basedon the updated time, the first access point performs CCA prior to theupdated time in one or more embodiments. Based on the updated time, thefirst access point foregoes CCA in one or more embodiments. Based on theupdated time, the first access point sends RTS and/or CTS based messagesprior to the updated time, or foregoes such messages in one or moreembodiments.

Referring now to operation 217, and in one or more embodiments, a deviceof the second RAT determines, responsive to the transmission using thefirst RAT, to transition to a third RAT or another frequency band fortransmitting a packet. In one or more embodiments, the device of thesecond RAT avoids or is denied access to the unlicensed band during thetransmission time of the first access point. In one or more embodiments,a coordinating device, central controller or a scheduler instructs theRAT to avoid the unlicensed band, or denies it access to the unlicensedband, during the transmission time of the first access point.Accordingly, the device of the second RAT determine if it couldtransition to a third RAT or another frequency band for transmitting apacket, in one or more embodiments. In one or more embodiments, acoordinating device, central controller or a scheduler instructs the RATto transition to a third RAT or another frequency band for transmittingthe packet.

Although examples of communications systems described above can includedevices and access points operating according to an IEEE 802.11, 3GPP orLTE standard, it should be understood that embodiments of the systemsand methods described can operate according to other standards and usewireless communications devices other than devices implemented asdevices and base stations. For example, communication interfacesassociated with cellular networks, satellite communications, vehiclecommunication networks, 802.11 and other non-802.11 wireless networkscan utilize the systems and methods described herein to achieve improvedoverall capacity and/or link quality without departing from the scope ofthe systems and methods described herein.

It should be noted that certain passages of this disclosure canreference terms such as “first” and “second” in connection with devices,RATs, commnication protocols, etc., for purposes of identifying ordifferentiating one from another or from others. These terms are notintended to merely relate entities (e.g., a first device and a seconddevice) temporally or according to a sequence, although in some cases,these entities can include such a relationship. Nor do these terms limitthe number of possible entities (e.g., devices) that can operate withina system or environment.

It should be understood that the systems described above can providemultiple ones of any or each of those components and these componentscan be provided on either a standalone machine or, in some embodiments,on multiple machines in a distributed system. In addition, the systemsand methods described above can be provided as one or morecomputer-readable programs or executable instructions embodied on or inone or more articles of manufacture. The article of manufacture can be afloppy disk, a hard disk, a CD-ROM, a flash memory card, a PROM, a RAM,a ROM, or a magnetic tape. In general, the computer-readable programscan be implemented in any programming language, such as LISP, PERL, C,C++, C#, PROLOG, or in any byte code language such as JAVA. The softwareprograms or executable instructions can be stored on or in one or morearticles of manufacture as object code.

While the foregoing written description of the methods and systemsenables one of ordinary skill to make and use various embodiments ofthese methods and systems, those of ordinary skill will understand andappreciate the existence of variations, combinations, and equivalents ofthe specific embodiment, method, and examples herein. The presentmethods and systems should therefore not be limited by the abovedescribed embodiments, methods, and examples, but by all embodiments andmethods within the scope and spirit of the disclosure.

We claim:
 1. A method for managing co-existence, the method comprising:scheduling, for a first access point, a time to begin transmission of apacket to a user device in an unlicensed frequency band using a firstradio access technology (RAT), the time to begin the transmissionscheduled to avoid transmission overlap with a second access point usinga second RAT in the unlicensed frequency band, and scheduled accordingto information from the second access point regarding operation in theunlicensed frequency band using the second RAT, wherein one of the firstand second RATs comprises one of a wireless local area network (WLAN)RAT or a long term evolution (LTE) based RAT, and another of the firstand second RATs comprises a remaining one of the WLAN RAT or the LTEbased RAT; receiving, by the first access point, updated informationregarding operation in the unlicensed frequency band using the secondRAT; determining, using the updated information, an updated time for thefirst access point to begin the transmission using the first RAT, theupdated time determined to avoid transmission overlap with the secondRAT in the unlicensed frequency band; and transmitting, by the firstaccess point according to the determined updated time, the packet in theunlicensed frequency band using the first RAT.
 2. The method of claim 1,wherein determining the updated time comprises determining the updatedtime in one of: a central scheduler for the first and second RATs, adistributed scheduler system comprising at least one device operating inthe first RAT and at least one device operating in the second RAT, or auser terminal operating in at least one of the first RAT and the secondRAT.
 3. The method of claim 1, wherein determining the updated timecomprises determining the updated time using the information from thesecond access point, the updated information, and information regardingoperation using the first RAT in the unlicensed frequency band.
 4. Themethod of claim 1, wherein determining the updated time comprisesnegotiating between the first access point using the first RAT, and atleast one device using the second RAT in the unlicensed frequency band.5. The method of claim 1, wherein determining the updated time furthercomprises at least one of: allocating or re-allocating a channel for thetransmission or a transmission using the second RAT, initiating atransmission back off by a device of the second RAT, or obtainingpre-approval for the transmission to begin at the updated time.
 6. Themethod of claim 1, wherein receiving the updated information comprisesintercepting, by the first access point, a communication in second RAT,and at least one of extracting or decoding at least a portion of theupdated information from the intercepted communication.
 7. The method ofclaim 1, further comprising establishing a self-organizing network (SON)between at least the first access point and one or more devicesoperating in the unlicensed frequency band using the second RAT, the SONimplementing a network adjustment to accommodate the transmission by thefirst access point at the updated time.
 8. The method of claim 1,further comprising determining, responsive to the transmission using thefirst RAT, to transition a device of the second RAT to a third RAT oranother frequency band for transmitting a packet.
 9. The method of claim1, further comprising sending, by the first access point to a device ofthe second RAT responsive to the determined updated time, one or moretransmit indications each comprising at least one of a correspondingtransmission start time, transmission duration, or transmission channelnumber.
 10. The method of claim 1, wherein determining the updated timefurther comprises coordinating transmissions in the unlicensed frequencyband between at least the first access point using the first RAT and atleast one device using the second RAT.
 11. A system for managingco-existence, the system comprising: A first access point configured tooperate in an unlicensed frequency band using a first radio accesstechnology (RAT); and a scheduling engine configured to determine, forthe first access point, a time to begin transmission of a packet to auser device in the unlicensed frequency band using the first RAT, thetime to begin the transmission determined to avoid transmission overlapwith a second access point using a second RAT in the unlicensedfrequency band, and scheduled according to information from the secondaccess point regarding operation in the unlicensed frequency band usingthe second RAT, wherein one of the first and second RATs comprises oneof a wireless local area network (WLAN) RAT or a long term evolution(LTE) based RAT, and another of the first and second RATs comprises aremaining one of the WLAN RAT or the LTE based RAT; wherein the firstaccess point is further configured to receive updated informationregarding operation in the unlicensed frequency band using the secondRAT; wherein the scheduling engine is further configured to determine,using the updated information, an updated time for the first accesspoint to begin the transmission using the first RAT, the updated timedetermined to avoid transmission overlap with the second RAT in theunlicensed frequency band; and wherein the first access point is furtherconfigured to transmit, according to the determined updated time, thepacket in the unlicensed frequency band using the first RAT.
 12. Thesystem of claim 11, wherein the scheduling engine comprises one of acentral scheduler for the first and second RATs, a distributed schedulersystem comprising at least one device operating in the first RAT and atleast one device operating in the second RAT, or a user terminaloperating in at least one of the first RAT and the second RAT.
 13. Thesystem of claim 11, wherein the scheduling engine is configured todetermine the updated time using the information from the second accesspoint, the updated information, and information regarding operationusing the first RAT in the unlicensed frequency band.
 14. The system ofclaim 11, wherein the scheduling engine is configured to at least one ofallocate or re-allocate a channel for the transmission or a transmissionusing the second RAT, initiate a transmission back off by a device ofthe second RAT, or obtain pre-approval for the transmission to begin atthe updated time.
 15. The system of claim 11, wherein the first accesspoint is configured to intercept a communication in second RAT, and toat least one of extract or decode at least a portion of the updatedinformation from the intercepted communication.
 16. The system of claim11, wherein the scheduling engine is configured to determine, responsiveto the transmission using the first RAT, to transition a device of thesecond RAT to a third RAT or another frequency band for transmitting apacket.
 17. The system of claim 11, wherein the first access point isconfigured to send to a device of the second RAT responsive to thedetermined updated time, one or more transmit indications eachcomprising at least one of a corresponding transmission start time,transmission duration, or transmission channel number.
 18. The system ofclaim 11, wherein the scheduling engine is configured to coordinatetransmissions in the unlicensed frequency band between at least thefirst access point using the first RAT and at least one device using thesecond RAT.
 19. A method for managing co-existence, the methodcomprising: determining, for a first access point, a time to begintransmission of a packet in an unlicensed frequency band using a firstradio access technology (RAT), the time to begin the transmissionscheduled to avoid transmission overlap with a device using a second RATin the unlicensed frequency band, and scheduled according to receivedinformation regarding operation in the unlicensed frequency band usingthe second RAT, wherein the first RAT comprises a wireless local areanetwork (WLAN) RAT or a long term evolution (LTE) based RAT; receiving,by the first access point, updated information regarding operation inthe unlicensed frequency band using the second RAT; determining, usingthe updated information, an updated time for the first access point tobegin the transmission using the first RAT, the updated time determinedto avoid transmission overlap with the second RAT in the unlicensedfrequency band; and transmitting, by the first access point at theupdated time, the packet in the unlicensed frequency band using thefirst RAT.
 20. The method of claim 19, wherein receiving the updatedinformation comprises intercepting, by the first access point, acommunication in second RAT, and at least one of extracting or decodingat least a portion of the updated information from the interceptedcommunication.